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Historical Commission

Below are some interesting bits of Brookfield's history:

Across from the former Brookfield Inn on West Main Street (Route 9), is a memorial that designates this part of the road as the George Washington Memorial Highway. In 1789, our first President traveled through five of the New England states. This tour has become the basis for all of the "George Washington slept here" claims -- but he never slept in Brookfield. Historical Commission member, Diane Martel tells you why. CLICK HERE.

In March 1778, Joshua Spooner, a wealthy gentleman farmer in Brookfield, was beaten to death and his body stuffed down a well. Four people were hanged for the crime: two British soldiers, a young Continental soldier, and Spooner's wife, Bathsheba, who was charged with instigating the murder. To read about the Spooner murder, CLICK HERE.

For more on the Spooner murder, check out the web site of crime historian and storyteller, E.J. Wagner. CLICK HERE

She may have come from a small hometown, but in 1945 she was better known than the Secretary of State or even Albert Einstein. She was Elsie the Cow, she came from Elm Hill Farm in Brookfield, and the crowds found her "udderly fascinating." To read more about Elsie's Brookfield connection, CLICK HERE.